(Proud Mother) with Triplets
Wednesday, August 7, 2013, has been recorded in Anguilla as the first time that triplets were born on the island within the last twenty years – the others having been born overseas.
The three girls appear to be identical, according to Anguillian Physician and Obstetrician, Dr Brett Hodge, who managed and delivered them. The proud parents are Eudlyn Brooks, 32, and her partner, Craig Gumbs, 39, of North Side.The babies were delivered by caesarean section at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
“You can say that the babies are natural triplets,” Dr Hodge told The Anguillian. “It is a very rare event and we were able to manage them to a successful outcome. The main complication was premature labour. The mother and babies are doing quite well.The mother and her children should leave the Princess Alexandra Hospital by Wednesday, August 14.”
Dr Hodge spoke further about the babies as follows:
“They were born on the 7th of August. The first baby (K’lyn V.Gumbs) was delivered at 3.21 am. Her weight was 4 pounds 14 ounces or 2.25 kilograms. Baby two (Ky’licia G. Gumbs) was delivered at 3.25 am. Her weight was 4 pounds 7 ounces or 2.02 kilograms; and the third baby (Ky’li C.Gumbs) was delivered at 3.26 am. Her birth weight was 4 pounds 5 ounces or 1.95 kilograms. They all came out in good conditions.”
Responding to further questions, Dr Hodge continued: “We were expecting twins but were surprised that they were triplets. Natural triplets, as I said, are very rare, but some cases of triplets are now associated with the use of medications to induce ovulation. In this case, however, we did not use any medications.”
Dr Hodge expressed thanks to the staff of the hospital, especially Nurse Chris Smith-Lake, and the theatre staff, particularly Dawn Gumbs, and the Paediatrician, Dr. Singh. He was happy that the triplets were successfully managed and delivered in Anguilla, and that this was a further indication of the improved medical and health services on the island despite limited resources.
Dr Hodge has been a practising Obstetrician in Anguilla for some 22 years. He studied medicine at the University of the West Indies and did his post graduate training in the United Kingdom. He has managed and delivered scores of babies in Anguilla. Among the children he managed were triplet girls at Rey Hill but who were delivered in the U S A.
Ms Brooks, the babies’ mother, who already has a six-year-old son, is employed at Malliouhana Insurance Company where she serves as a Policy Services Underwriter. She has expressed gratitude to Hodge Medical Services as well as to her mother, Patricia Brooks, who has always been there for her and who, along with others, will give her plenty of help in caring for the triplets. “I am excited and afraid because it is three of them, but I will have a lot of help so I will be okay,” she chuckled.Eudlyn’s father is the well-known Wycliffe Richardson, owner of Anguilla Television Channel 3.
